Deputy Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Anatoliy Korzun says the Cabinet of Ministers has allocated UAH 136 million ($4.8 million) in wages for the country’s miners.
“The government has signed a resolution on the allocation of UAH 136 million to pay off wage arrears for miners. Now the last conciliation procedures are underway. I think in the near future the arrears will be reduced significantly,” Korzun said while addressing the Parliament.
The move is a part of the government policy to support the domestic coal industry.
It was earlier reported that the Cabinet of Ministers was drafting a decree to set a priority for the Ukrainian coal to be used at the country’s thermal power plants (TPP). According to Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman, this will have a positive impact on Ukraine’s energy independence and domestic economy.
In January-August the shipments of imported thermal coal to TPPs and combined heat and power plants (CPPs) across Ukraine amounted to 3.74 million tons, up 1.7-fold YoY (2.187 million tons). At the same time, 2.91 million tons of coal came to the Ukrainian power plants from Russia, accounting for 77.8%. (UNIAN/Ukrainian metal)